Makinen Kicks Off AIDAmar Refit in Marseille, Second Phase of AIDA Program

Makinen has started refurbishing the AIDAmar in Marseille, opening the second phase of its Evolution-program work for AIDA Cruises with four ships in the queue through 2027-28.

The AIDAmar is first in line. The AIDAblu, AIDAsol and AIDAstella follow in 2027-28, which suggests a rolling multi-year revenue pipeline rather than a one-off yard contract. Phase one closed this spring with the AIDAbella, after the AIDAdiva and AIDAluna went through in 2025.

After drydock ends December 20, the AIDAmar sails a week-long Christmas cruise in the western Mediterranean, departing Palma de Mallorca the same day. That's a tight turnaround — and a reminder that cruise lines now schedule refits around booked itineraries, not the other way round.

What does the CEO claim — and what's verifiable?

"Multi-ship refurbishment programs are very much at the core of Makinen's expertise, so the EVO I projects have naturally been an important part of our recent work," said Mikko Makinen, CEO of Makinen.

He added: "The partnership with AIDA Cruises has been professional, transparent, and above all enjoyable. In refurbishment programs like these, the customer benefits from continuity, cost-efficiency, and consistency when the same experienced teams work from one vessel to the next."

Cost-efficiency is the operative claim, and Makinen doesn't attach a number to it. What's measurable is scope: the program is roughly identical across vessels, covering extensive cabin refurbishments, suite conversions and the conversion of the Pier 3 bar area.

How big was the AIDAbella job?

The just-completed AIDAbella refit ran at Chantier Naval de Marseille from January to March 2026. Makinen's scope covered more than 1,000 passenger cabins and 18 suites — call it three cabins a day over the roughly 90-day window, before accounting for parallel trades.

The numbers worth noting:

• Over 1,000 passenger cabins refurbished
• 18 suites upgraded
• 12 cabins converted into six new family suites, each with a new bathroom and Jacuzzi
• The Pier 3 bar demolished and rebuilt into 12 new crew cabins, plus a new crew corridor and lobby

Cabin work covered furniture, lighting and electrical elements, illuminated mirrors, wall features, curtains, bathrooms and general maintenance. Suites got new furniture, ceilings, layout modifications, wall linings, wallcoverings, carpet, drapery and lighting. Outside passenger areas received new flooring and artwork.

The Pier 3 conversion deserves attention: turning a revenue bar into a dozen crew cabins trades onboard spend for crew capacity. AIDA hasn't said publicly how that math works, and the source doesn't explain the decision.

What came before this drydock?

The AIDAmar already had a short drydock in the Netherlands this summer — with passengers onboard. AIDA marketed it as a "shipyard experience" cruise, effectively monetizing the refit itself.

That's a distribution play as much as an engineering one: a sailing that would normally lose revenue to a yard slot instead sells cabins. Expect more lines to test the format.

What's next?

With three ships still queued for 2027-28 and the AIDAmar due out December 20, Makinen's Marseille operations now anchor a multi-year cruise refit program whose full contract value remains undisclosed.